Ray Singer

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/13632-tampa-2014-report/?fromsearch=1

Yes this is the same sword which showed up in Tampa in 2014 and which was discussed here on this board.

Yes, it is the same sword.

https://www.nihonto.com/soshu-akihiro-%E7%9B%B8%E5%B7%9E%E7%A7%8B%E5%BA%83/

An update from the Dai Token Ichi by Adrian Schlemmer. "LOST TREASURE SWORD SOLD AT DTI. As some of you know my Sydney Token Kai website has a list of lost treasure swords that disappeared shortly after the end of World War 2. One of these swords an important Akihiro wakizashi belonging to the Shimazu clan was recently found hanging on a wall for 40 years in the USA. It re-surfaced to much excitement and it now has a new home to a wealthy Japanese collector and is back in Japan. The ticket price was $420,000 in Australian dollars, the sale price is not disclosed. Here I am examining its beauty before it disappears again from public view. Thank you to my friend Robert Hughess for allowing me the honour to carefully handle it and photograph it. Congratulations to the new owner!"

Hi, who has told you that the second sword is a Yosozaemon? It is signed Yokoyama Kozuke Daijo Sukesada.

Tom, considering all things (placement of the mei, mekugi-ana, nakago-jiri, etc) it seems clear that this sword is not ubu.

I would be surprised if this is ubu given the placement of the mekugi-ana.

Yes, seem like Moritaka. 盛高

Kanenobu. Definitely not Tametsugu.

I just received news from my best friend that his sword passed this year. Hope others here have similarly received good news.

Similar motif, and execution in katakiribori for design elements in the screen panels. https://www.aoijapan.com/kozuka-tokujyo-saku-mitsutakakao/

Jack, this looks like you may have a higher-quality sword. The blade looks very well-formed from the one photo you provided. The fuchi and habaki are also above average. It appears that someone has substituted a screw for what would ordinarily be a bamboo peg (mekugi) in the handle (tsuka). Use care in removing it and please do read through the article Grey has shared above. Best, Ray

https://www.nihonto.com/nagamitsu

I spoke with Tsuruta-san earlier in the week about that sword. This was his reply. "the signature was made by someone engraved the title of the blade by himself. Akatsuki This is not the sword smith just only mark."

The extreme amount of corrosion in the nakago may have been chemically induced. The photos are not clear and make it difficult to evaluate. It may be a Muromachi period blade (the sugata feels right for a somewhat tired koto blade), however it is also possible that the nakago has been artificially corroded at some point to give the appearance of age.

The sayagaki is unusual. Seems there is a character (kanji) missing. Yamato (no) kuni ju Fujiwara Hisa___ saku. 大和國住藤原久__作

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SUPERB-HIZEN-TADAYOSHI-Japanese-Antique-Signed-Sword-in-Shirasaya-w-NBTHK-E839/292496292240?hash=item441a233990:g:NegAAOSwsTVaseDW

Chris, as I mentioned in the other post I do not believe that 飾之 has the reading of Kazuyuki and I suggested kazari (kazaru) kore as an alternate meaning for the inscription.

I believe that the Teppo is signed: 飾之 (kazari kore) I would love for someone like Steve and Markus to chime in, but I think that 飾 (Kazari) may refer to decoration/applied design elements on the Teppo. I am not familiar with 飾 having the reading of Kazu within a name. This will give further information on how titles were given. https://markussesko.com/2013/02/19/how-honorary-titles-were-conferred/

Thank you Jeremiah!

I would not consider at that price without kanteisho. Again, the swordsmith does not appear to be on that is listed. Perhaps a meikan-more (valid signature for an unknown smith) or others here may have a reference.

Is this the sword you are looking at? I don't have any references for this smith unfortunately. https://www.masamune-store.com/tachi-fujiwara-nobuyoshi,us,4,IA_AN_TIQ_005.cfm

Blade looks traditionally-made. The nakago-jiri is a bit different from a typical Kaga nakago. Nakago reminds me of Seiryuken Moritoshi. Not too uncommon to find mumei Shinshinto. https://www.aoijapan.net/?s=mumei+shinshinto&x=0&y=0 Best regards, Ray

Listing a very beautiful ubu signed Shinto katana by the Shitahara smith Yasushige. The blade is signed 武州下原住山本内紀康重 - Bushū Shimohara ju Yamamoto Naiki Yasushige. This smith worked around Kanei (1624-1644). He was the third generation of the Shitahara Yasushige line and was raked Jo-saku. https://nihontoclub.com/smiths/YAS915 This smith has a very nice Soshu-style hamon in nei-deki, with some kinsuji and sunagashi. The jihada is itame mixed with mokume (typical of Shitahara) and is quite beautiful. The blade measures 68.8cm, with a 3cm moto-haba and 6mm kasane. It is in polish with a solid silver 1-piece habaki and shirasaya. The signature has been verified with NBTHK Hozon.